On a beautiful, sun-drenched July afternoon, I had the joy of officiating a very special wedding at Starbank Park in Edinburgh. Nestled between the sea and the city, this lovingly cared-for green space became the perfect setting for a celebration full of heart, creativity and community spirit.
Calum & Gilly chose to marry beneath the park’s big tree … a natural, grounded backdrop that gave the ceremony a sense of calm and connection. They had decorated the space with lanterns hanging from the branches, vibrant chalk drawings on the path, and blooms of fresh flowers, transforming the area into a colourful and welcoming celebration spot.
Because Starbank Park remained open to the public, passers-by were treated to a little unexpected joy as they paused quietly to watch. It felt like the whole park was sharing in the happiness of the day.
The ceremony itself was rich with personal touches. We included a Handfasting ritual, with both mums taking part … a beautiful moment symbolising the joining of two families. And to close, the couple shared a dram from the quaich, Scotland’s traditional cup of friendship. Then, in a lovely touch of hospitality, everyone was offered a wee miniature of whisky to toast the newlyweds.
It was one of those days that reminds me exactly why I love what I do … full of love, laughter, and the unique beauty that comes from a couple making their ceremony their own.
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Scotland is a land of romance and history, with many traditions that stretch back thousands of years. In fact, here in Scotland, our love of traditions can only be rivalled by our love of food and drink, and when the two meet in Ceremony, well you know you’re in for a braw time!
Many people will be familiar with the Quaich ritual, where a couple share a wee dram from a two lugged cup to symbolise trust, unity & sharing, but as we all know from our mammies, when alcohol is involved it’s usually a good idea to have something in your stomach to absorb it! (“Ye need tae line yer stomach if ye’s ur gonnae go oot and get steamin”!!). Particularly if you have been starving yourself for months so you can fit into your dress or kilt!
The ‘Cake & Ale’ ritual, where a couple take communion by making an offering of cake to each other is popular in Wiccan & Pagan Ceremonies, and can be a fun but meaningful addition to your Ceremony. However, as with any ritual, care & attention to detail is important, and so while in a traditional wiccan Ceremony, the cake (or cookies) would always be handmade with love, what I’ve found is that couples tend to be so busy with the organisation and planning of their celebrations that they end up just buying a cake. Which means on more than one occasion, I’ve turned up to find an M&S Lemon Drizzle Cake (usually still in it’s box) on the altar table! Now there’s nothing wrong with that if M&S is part of your love story, but not if it’s just for convenience.
Much as I love a cheeky wee Asda tray bake, when it comes to your Ceremony, it’s just a naw!
So what can you do to ensoul your Ceremony if you would like to break bread with your betrothed as part of your moment?
Ideally you and your partner would make time to bake your own Ceremony cake or treats, but if this is not an option then have a think about what/how you can add depth to this ritual. Could one of your mum’s or grannies do a wee bit of baking? Do you have any wee ones in the family and if so, could they bake some yummy cupcakes? What if instead of having a hen or stag do, both groups did a bake off and this was brought along to be shared during the Ceremony?
For 2023, I’m introducing my own take on the Cake & Ale by introducing the ‘Clootie Dram ’ into my bag of rituals, which is where instead of sharing a yum yum fae Greggs, you would share a slice of delicious slice of handmade clootie dumpling, washed down by a wee dram of the 2023 Aye Do Whisky! (Dalmore 12)
But haud on! Whit on earth is a Clootie Dumpling I hear you ask!
Clootie Dumplings are a traditional steamed Scottish pudding made with dried fruit and spices, but it’s the way it’s cooked that makes it really special. Once all the ingredients have been added, they are wrapped in a ‘Cloot’ (Scots for cloth) that has been sprinkled with flour, and this forms a delicious layer around the outside of the dumpling. They are traditionally eaten with custard or ice-cream, but are just as delicious on their own, and you can eat them hot or cold.
The Aye Do Clootie Dumplings I use are from Clootie McToots in the village of Abernethy where I live, where they are handmade every day in the wee kitchen at the back of the shop. There are a whole range of flavours and sizes so you can even share a bit with all your guests. You can also buy a kit and make your own at home!
And the icing on the Clootie? They come presented in a beautiful satin lined Harris Tweed jacket.
Every part of your Ceremony should be put together will thought, care, attention… and a great big sprinkling of love 
How sweet is that?! 
And so from the moment I start working with my couples, I am already planning how to create the right energy in the room before the ceremony even starts. This is really important because it puts people at ease and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
It also brings people into the moment and builds anticipation and excitement, not just in the guests but in the wedding couple because I always wait until I know whoever is about to make an entrance is standing outside the door so that she/he can hear the buzz!
Being an Interfaith Celebrant is not just about reading from a book, or signing a piece of paper, it’s about listening to a couple’s hopes and dreams for their day and then creating an experience that brings those hopes and dreams to life.
Watch the video below to see what happens before the bride comes in.
#ayelovemywork
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